The Climax Gentlemen's Club, a decades-old lightning rod of controversy along Route 22 in Salem that offered the first-ever nude dancer drive-through window, is officially closed.

During recent weekends, the estate of late club owner Nicholas "Nick" W. Fratangelo, 58, of Penn Hills, Allegheny County, has been selling off items such as tables and chairs that were used in two separate nightclub buildings.

A large, blue, PRC Commercial real estate sign — advertising the sale of the 2.5-acre site and three separate buildings — has been posted on the property.

"Yes, it was a very hard decision for me because Nick loved that place so much. But it's such a time-consuming business, I really had no choice but to close and I do feel bad about it," said Fratangelo's widow, Barbara.

Mr. Fratangelo died Jan. 15.

"Nick really did make it into a landmark," Barbara Fratangelo said. "It is a really great location there."

Fratangelo said her husband hated the numerous and often bitter court fights with Salem Township supervisors. Both sides locked into one protracted court battle over whether local officials could regulate the club's hours.

In spite of those hassles, Fratangelo enjoyed the business of running the club, his wife said. At one time, it featured an outdoor nude swimming pool, surrounded by a 10-foot-high fence.

Fratangelo said her late husband was particularly proud of the publicity generated in 2000 when he opened a drive-through show at $5 per minute. That enterprise generated numerous articles in local and national publications.

"I remember Nick got such a kick out of it when it was mentioned by Jay Leno on 'The Tonight Show,'" she said.

Not everyone is upset over the club's demise.

During Fratangelo's ownership, he battled the township over restrictions placed on the club's operating hours, but lost appeals before the state Supreme Court and the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the local ordinance.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't wish any ill will toward the (Fratangelo) family, but I for one am glad to see it go. I believe it has actually hurt potential development along the Route 22 corridor," former supervisor Ed Gieselman said.

"That lawsuit that was upheld in our favor (in 2002) in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court actually became case law throughout the state, permitting municipalities to set standards on certain businesses that could have a negative impact on the community. But no, (that litigation) was not any fun," Gieselman said.

Supervisor Ron Martz said the gentlemen's club license with the township expired June 30.

"I really don't know what to say except it's another area business that has closed. Who knows what could end up in there," Martz said.

Joanne Broom, who lives along Old William Penn Highway, behind the club, said the business never bothered her.

"I didn't even know it was closed until a month ago," she said.

David Bundy, who operates Bundy's Up-In-Smoke House across Route 22 from the former club, said not much has been mentioned about the closing of the club.

"They never caused me any trouble. I hate to say it, but I always used it as a landmark for driving directions when people were asking where my business was," Bundy said. "Everyone who drives Route 22 knows where the Climax is and we're right across the street,"

"Oh, I think people will remember for a long time where the Climax was," he said.

PRC Commercial agent Tony Ferry agrees.

"There's been a ton of interest in it so far. It is a really terrific location, has two approximately 3,000-square-foot buildings and a lot of people don't know about the three-bedroom home behind it," he said.

The asking price is $199,000.

Ferry said some prospective buyers have mentioned an interest in reopening it as a gentlemen's club, "but they've been unable to secure a mortgage from banks."

He said other interested parties have mentioned turning it into a fruit stand or a traditional lounge.

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